woman seemed perfectly indifferent to the sum proposed,
and wholly absorbed in her lover, and in the grief
of leaving him. She seemed insensible to everything
but the cruel sacrifice which her reason, and her
love itself, demanded. At length, drawing from
a little portfolio the promise of marriage, signed
by the Count, ’I know his heart too well,’
said she, ‘to need it.’ Then she kissed
it again and again, with a sort of transport, and
delivered it to the Ambassador, who stood by, astonished
at the grandeur of soul he witnessed. He promised
her that he would never cease to take the liveliest
interest in her fate, and assured the Count of his
father’s forgiveness. ‘He will receive
with open arms,’ said he, ’the prodigal
son, returning to the bosom of his distressed family;
the heart of a father is an exhaustless mine of tenderness.
How great will be the felicity of my friend on the
receipt of these tidings, after his long anxiety and
affliction; how happy do I esteem myself, at being
the instrument of that felicity!’ Such was,
in part, the language of the Ambassador, which appeared
to produce a strong impression on the young man.
But, fearing lest, during the night, love should regain
all his power, and should triumph over the generous
resolution of the lady, the Marquis pressed the young
Count to accompany him to his hotel. The tears,
the cries of anguish, which marked this cruel separation,
cannot be described; they deeply touched the heart
of the Ambassador, who promised to watch over the
young lady. The Count’s little baggage
was not difficult to remove, and, that very evening,
he was installed in the finest apartment of the Ambassador’s
house. The Marquis was overjoyed at having restored
to the illustrious house of Moncade the heir of its
greatness, and of its magnificent domains. On
the following morning, as soon as the young Count
was up, he found tailors, dealers in cloth, lace,
stuffs, etc., out of which he had only to choose.
Two valets de chambre, and three laquais, chosen
by the Ambassador for their intelligence and good
conduct, were in waiting in his antechamber, and presented
themselves, to receive his orders. The Ambassador
shewed the young Count the letter he had just written
to his father, in which he congratulated him on possessing
a son whose noble sentiments and striking qualities
were worthy of his illustrious blood, and announced
his speedy return. The young lady was not forgotten;
he confessed that to her generosity he was partly
indebted for the submission of her lover, and expressed
his conviction that the Count would not disapprove
the gift he had made her, of ten thousand florins.
That sum was remitted, on the same day, to this noble
and interesting girl, who left the Hague without delay.
The preparations for the Count’s journey were
made; a splendid wardrobe and an excellent carriage
were embarked at Rotterdam, in a ship bound for France,
on board which a passage was secured for the Count,